Sunday Writing... 3-1-20... "DUST TO DUST"

Good morning,

Today's writing, "DUST TO DUST" explores two times this is talked about in some churches.  Read on to find out when that occurs, what it symbolizes, and whether that phrase is in the Bible.

Blessings,
Jan

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Today's Devotional: 

"DUST TO DUST"

by

Jan Andersen

There are two particular times that we might typically hear something about “dust to dust” in our church.  One is at an Ash Wednesday service, which many attended this past Wednesday at the beginning of the season of Lent, leading up to Easter.  The phrase, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” is often spoken as a cross of ashes is applied to each person’s forehead.  The other time is at a funeral at the graveside ceremony when a handful of dirt may be dropped onto the coffin in the ground and the phrase, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” may be spoken in a prayer.  

Applying ashes to our foreheads on Ash Wednesday is to remind us of our humanness - our sinful nature and mortality, and the need for confession and repentance.  The shape of the cross is to remind us that our sinfulness is why Jesus had to die on the cross in our place in order to give us the free gift of salvation.  The ashes that are used for this symbolic action are often made by burning the palm fronds that were used at the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration.  This reminds us of the humble majesty of the Christ who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey as the people laid palm branches on the road to honor him, leading up to his crucifixion.  To help the ashes stick to the foreheads of the worshippers, they are often mixed with oil.  This can symbolize anointing the head with oil which was used for, among other things, recovery of those who were sick.  Hence, the ashes show we are human, the oil shows we are sick with sin, and the cross is how we are saved.   We experience even greater joy on Easter when we prepare in such a solemn way during Lent.  While these things are not commanded by scripture nor are they necessary for salvation, they are meaningful teaching tools that have been used for centuries. 

The other phrase, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” at a graveside reminds us of how our bodies were created from the earth, and at death they decompose and return to the earth.  It is not meant to be morbid, but rather to bring to mind the comfort of knowing that God created us, loves us in spite of knowing our faults, and saves us because of his great compassion when we remain faithful.  

Psalm 103:13-14 (ESV) “A father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.  For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

Again, although these exact phrases and traditions mentioned above are not found in the Bible, they are useful tools to help us remember our human state and all that God means to us.  A few more places we find this use of dust and ashes in the Bible are: 

Genesis 2:7  “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  

Genesis 18:27 Abraham answered and said [to God], “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.”

Job 34:15  “all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.”

Ecclesiastes 3:20  “All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.”

Dear Father in heaven who tenderly formed humankind from the dust of the earth, graciously saves us from our sins through your Son’s sacrifice, and faithfully protects and guides us through life, we thank you for your compassion.  Help us to remain faithful so that when our lowly bodies return to the dust of the earth, our souls will rest in You until at the last trumpet You unite us with our glorified bodies in heaven to worship you forever.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.  

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Song:

SECOND CHANCE
Rend Collective Experiment

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and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries.

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